I have bee doing some serious research into the A2 vs A1 milk controvery. seems to be a lot of research tp prove A1 milk is is making people unhealthy vs. A2 milk making sick people better. Anyone have any thoughts. I am looking into getting a Jersey cow fpr milking and possibly beef production. Probably going to look for a proven A2 cow. Is it worth the search and possibly higher price???

I am not saying i am convinced by this research as I have not done enough to drawn my own conclusions. A simple google search returns a whole slew of links and websites talking about the same thing. The main guy on this seems to be Dr. Mercola author of "devil in the milk." Just wondering what folks here think or know.

I got into A2 milk research a couple of years ago. Though I think it's a valid point of research, I think there are many other things of much more serious consequences to our health than A1 milk. All the A2 milk in the world isn't going to fix Cheerios, McD's or soda damage to your health. It would seem simplier to just eliminate most milk from your diet.

It isn't easy to find an A2 cow. If the seller knows about A2- the price just doubled, though she will give no more milk than before. If you have to have a cow tested, it will take a while to get the results back and she could be sold in the meantime. But you are out the test $.

"Devil in the Milk" was written by Keith Woodford. You might do a search on A2 in this forum as we've had several discussion on this topic. I'm not sure if they are still there, but they should be. The book was written in 2007. Dr. Woodford claimed that NZ was 'quietly' going to all A2 milk so they could take over the market by the time his research was more accepted. I know it can take years to get a herd of cows genetics straightened out, but if this were absolutely true, I'd think we would be hearing more about it by now. If it were what he said it was, they would have removed all the stops to get only A2 cows in their herds. With AI & implantation, I'd think in 5 years alone, you could replace most of your herd or breed your own A2s.

Oh, my mistake. I must have misread that Mercola wrote the book. I dont know. The research seems convincing, though I agree with you that this magic milk wont heal the McDonalds, soda, sugar damage. I am in contact with a Jersey farm near me. they do not test for the gene, but would be willing to let me test before buying at an already predetermined price. So maybe I will get lucky. I have found a bull in virginia that is A2/A2. Maybe if I can find an A2/A2 cow I can do my own bloodline perfecting personally, I think even if the A1 milk IS hurting more than helping people the dairy business would never change out their holsteins. Theyve gotten those suckers too proficient at being milk producing machines.

We've now tested our entire Dexter herd for the A2 genetics. We have around 15 of them out of a herd of 39 or so, including several bull calves from this year. It's a simple process of pulling tail hairs and sending them in. We used UC Davis, and the results are usually back within 5 days. It costs $25.00

As Genebo will chime in, why not err on the safe side with respect to the A1-A2 findings? If you're going to the effort to have your own milk cow, you are already going to great lengths to be aware of your food and where it comes from.

On the Dexter site Dexter Cattle For Sale Dexter Cattle Breeder there is a list of AI bulls, some of them have been tested for the A2/A2 protein. I'm sure there are Jersey AI bulls available that have also been tested and available.

It isn't easy to find an A2 cow. If the seller knows about A2- the price just doubled, though she will give no more milk than before. If you have to have a cow tested, it will take a while to get the results back and she could be sold in the meantime. But you are out the test $.

Callieslamb, I've sent tail hair from VA to UC Davis in California and usually get results by email in less than a week.

Genebo maintains a list of tested A2/A2 Dexters; I bet he can post a link to it.

Hannah90, I have an A2/A2 bull and one A2/A2 cow, both Dexters. Most of mine have tested A1/A2. Haven't doubled any prices!

This all started for me this morning when I was looking into my dexter cow's bloodlines. Ik didnt know there was a movement to preserve the original lines from the lines the english introduced. I found out my cow is from the english lines on both sides. I was actually looking to find which dexter lines are better for milk. I like my cow's milk, but it wasnt exactly the product I was hoping for. Which is why I am looking to switch to Jersey for milk instead of going down a wild goose chase for better milking Dexter lines. I am going out on a limb and saying Annabelle, my cow has A/2 milk. My only reasoning at this educated guess is because my boyfriend is lactose intolerant, and has no symptoms when he drinks her milk. I could be wrong. could just be the difference in raw vs pasturized.

Hanna90,
I think you've got a pretty good handle on things. Testing the cow before purchase is the way to go. I would jump on that deal!

Processed milk goes through a lot of changes, killing the good bacteria along with the bad. Raw milk may be enough for Your BF. I know that the semen companies are testing all of their bulls, and going towards A2A2.

Thanks Judy. When I bought Annabelle, all I was concerned with was getting a calm cow. I thought Dexter was the answer for me, but this particular cow doesnt have the milk I want. I wish I had doned more research before buying her. Good cow. good first milk cow experience... Just cant get enough cream to make the other products I was wanting. If I could find a Guernsey I would be extatic, but those are hard to find in Iowa!

Is this your cow's first lactation? It generally increases with subsequent lactations for several years. Don't give up on the Dexters yet.

There really is no way to tell the A2 status without the test. We have a couple of VERY old cows about as close as you can get to the Woodmagic lines that are A1/A1. All it takes for an A2/A2 cow bred to one A1/A2 bull to get a A1/A2 calf. Two A1/A2 parents can make a A2/A2 calf. Unless you're breeding two A1/A1, or two A2/A2 together which would produce obligate offspring, you must test each calf.

No, Annabelle is 12 years old. I still want to keep dexters around as I like the general make up of the breed. I intend to keep her son as a breeding bull. I would like to do some experimenting with a dexter jersey cross. I want o keep looking into the different genes to see if I can find a dexter with milk more along the lines of what I am looking for. In the mean time, I am taking a short cut with the jersey route.

I'm not entirely sure what is it you're looking for here. Mind you, I never said anything about any of this being proven. As of right now, there is no absolute science to prove that A1 milk is causing any health problems. However, there is serious speculation that it is a link to these health problems developing in humans. Maybe there is no proof because no one has cared to pay anyone to do the real science work required to prove it. Or, maybe there is no real scientific proof because it bull huckey. I don't know. I am not about to write a college level research paper on it. Which is why I came here asking for opinions. Yours is pretty clear. I have not fully developed mine.

Ok. I made a mistake. I meant to say research TRYING to prove. You're missing the entire point. I came here asking for other folk's opinions and thoughts on the matter. If you do not agree, please don't take it out on me. I thought this was a forum for folks to learn and others to help. yikes.

It is interesting. I think it's worth the effort to do some more research on it to decide if you want to pay more for a cow. If we were going to milk a cow again I certainly would look into it more. We have several dexters in with our beef herds, guess I would just get them tested to start out with.

Sort of ot but wondering why there seems to be some mild hostility in this thread about this?

I don't know. :-/ Anyway, I have contacted a few jersey dairies today and all said they do not test their cows, but I am welcome to before purchasing. I wish I could find a Guernsey because from what I read they are all A2. I suppose if it werent an issue, or there was not difference in the two types there would be no research at all. I think, as someone said in this thread already, it may be best to err on the side of saftey since the cow I am after will be the family milk cow. It just all kinda goes along with my sustainable farm approach. I am not about to jump on the band wagon and start honking the A2 milk horn. I honk enough horns for GMO foods, CAFOs and the over use of antibiotics in animals. I will let someone else carry this flag and just make the best decision for my family. Cheers all, and thanks for the input! Happy Weekend!